Flowers have an enduring and global appeal. Their fragrance, symmetry and vibrant colours can help bring about feelings of calm, happiness or romance. Flower arranging is the practice of maximising appeal of flowers by grouping together and organising plant materials to achieve harmony of form, colour and texture. Flowers arrangements are regularly used at ceremonies such as weddings, graduations, birthdays and funerals as expressions of celebration, decoration or condolence.
Although flower arranging has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity in recent times, it has in fact been around for thousands of years and was practised in Ancient Egypt, China and Greece, through to Renaissance-era Italy, Victorian England and Baroque France.
What does it involve
Part-time Flower Arranging/Floristry courses teach participants about the general principles of unity, balance, harmony, and rhythm, which often involve the use of light, space, texture, scale, and accent. More specifically, students will learn how to make impressive bows, hand-tied bouquets, wreaths and corsages.
You will begin by learning to assemble traditional geometric shapes while acquiring the fundamentals and broadening your flower arranging skills. As you progress in your course you will be given training in using tape, clay and floral wire all of which are important for supporting and shaping your display as needed, whether the shape is round, upright, crescent, fan or oval.
Once students have obtained the basic flower arranging skills, they will be encouraged to develop their own unique style. Most courses will also offer information on the what flowers are most appropriate for specific occasions, along with expert advice on how to process, store and arrange flowers.
Those who are interested can also avail of several courses in Wedding Floristry. As flowers are so heavily used at wedding events, courses tend to be slightly more intensive and students will be given training in how to put together show-stopping bouquets for brides, bridesmaid and flower girls; corsages for the bridal party; flower wands and hoops for the flower girls; table centrepieces; bows for the church pews and even for the top of the wedding cake!
For those who are interested in making a career out of their flower arranging, there are also online programmes that will offer guidance on starting your own flower shop. These will look at areas such as creating a business plan, securing financial backing, choosing a business name and logo, and working with wholesalers and producers.
Why do it
For most people, doing a course in Flower Arranging is mainly about enjoying a peaceful and creative pastime using beautiful natural objects in a fun environment. Many will also take great pleasure from the fact that they can go on to use their skills in creating displays for the special occasions of their family and friends. However, it is also worth noting that flower arranging is a pursuit that can easily become a highly lucrative profession: florists trade on their reputation, and the more impressive their displays, the greater the demand for their services.
What comes next
A skilled florist/flower arranger can expect to have put together displays for numerous occasions both big and small. And because flower arranging has become such an established form of expression, displays will always be required at public and private occasions and ceremonies, in hotels and restaurants, as well as in homes.
At a glance
Flower Arranging courses can run from 10 to 20 weeks weeks. A course on Flower Arranging for Weddings will typically run for 10 weeks.
